CORRELATES OF SELECTED INDICES OF PHYSICAL FITNESS AND DURATION OF INCARCERATION AMONG INMATES IN SOME SELECTED NIGERIA PRISONS

Abstract

Background: Incarceration has been associated with reduced physical activity. However, physical inactivity is amajor cause of morbidity and mortality. The aim of the present study was therefore, to evaluate the incidence andrelationship between the measures of physical fitness and the duration of incarceration in of inmates in Kano-Nigeria prisons.Method: A cross-sectional study was done to determine the relationship between the measures of physical fitnessand the duration of incarceration of inmates in Kano prisons. Subjects’ physical fitness level (cardio-respiratoryfitness, body mass index and waist circumference) was assessed using standardized protocols. Simple percentage,Pearson moment correlation test and student’s t-test were used to analyze variables of interest.Result: One hundred and sixteen inmates; 108 (93.1%) males and 8 (6.9%) females participated in the study. Thestudy revealed high (93.1%) prevalence of low cardio-respiratory fitness among inmates and significant correla-tion between the selected indices of physical fitness (cardio-respiratory fitness, body mass index and waist circum-ference) and duration of incarceration.Conclusion: The prevalence of low cardio-respiratory fitness was high among inmates and long period of inade-quate physical activity may be implicated as causative factor of low physical fitness among inmates in Kanoprison. Prison administration and staff should encourage healthy inmate behavior. Provision of adequate facilitiesto encourage physical activity and sports participation is highly needed